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Mississippi releases lower school district ratings amid planned changes to grading system

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Education Daily Wire Sep 25, 2025

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The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has released accountability grades for the 2024-25 school year, showing that 80.1% of schools and 87.2% of districts earned a grade of C or higher. This marks a decline from the previous year, when 85.7% of schools and 93.9% of districts achieved at least a C.

The state set a goal in 2016 for all schools and districts to reach at least a C rating. At that time, only 62% met this standard.

Statewide student assessment data are a major factor in determining these grades. The results from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP), released on August 21, 2025, showed mixed outcomes with both increases and decreases in proficiency rates across different grades and subjects.

“While Mississippi has made historic progress over the past decade, the areas of declining achievement demand our immediate attention,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “The accountability grades provide important data to guide our work moving forward. Mississippi students have proven they can achieve at higher levels, and we owe it to them to continue challenging and supporting them so every graduate is prepared for lifelong success.”

Mississippi’s accountability system aims to inform teachers, school leaders, parents, and communities about how well their local schools serve students. The components used for grading include student proficiency and growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics for grades 3-8; growth among the lowest performing quarter of students; science proficiency in grades 5 and 8; English Learner progress; performance on ACT-related assessments; advanced coursework participation; and graduation rates.

Over the past year, MDE has worked with stakeholders to update its accountability system with plans to raise expectations for performance starting in the next school year. Changes will include expanded measures for college and career readiness—such as industry certifications and military readiness—the removal of the high school U.S. History assessment, and stricter standards for assigning A-F grades.

“We will maintain rigorous academic standards through new minimum proficiency targets while we expand recognition for graduation achievements and industry certifications that lead directly to good-paying jobs,” Dr. Evans said. “This balanced approach will ensure we are measuring what matters most for each student’s individual path to success.”

State law allows charter schools to apply in areas where districts receive D or F ratings. In this cycle, nine districts received such ratings. Of seven existing charter schools graded this year, all but one were rated D or F.

All four Districts of Transformation under state leadership experienced declines after previous improvements.

“Transforming districts that have struggled for years is complex work that does not happen overnight,” Dr. Evans said. “While we are disappointed to see declines in our Districts of Transformation this year, we cannot lose sight of the significant progress these communities have made. The MDE is committed to the long-term work of building sustainable systems that supports consistent and sustained student achievement.”

To address recent declines in achievement, MDE plans initiatives including seeking legislative funding for adolescent literacy programs targeting grades 4-8 as well as math initiatives aimed at grades 2-6. The department also encourages adoption of high-quality instructional materials by more districts and supports implementation of literacy instruction based on scientific research into reading methods.

Additionally, MDE is working with stakeholders on a new Strategic Plan for PreK-12 Education scheduled for release in early 2026.

Mississippi’s educational gains over the last decade have been recognized nationally: according to results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), fourth-graders ranked ninth nationally in reading scores and sixteenth in math scores while achieving some of the largest gains since 2013; further information can be found at mdek12.org/publicreporting/accountability . In addition, Mississippi was ranked sixteenth nationally by KIDS COUNT Data Book published by Annie E Casey Foundation—an improvement from forty-eighth place just over ten years ago—details available via msrc.mdek12.org .

Mississippi attributes its rise in student achievement partly to raising academic standards statewide as well as supporting teachers’ efforts toward those standards through effective laws focused on early childhood education reforms alongside increased accountability measures throughout public schooling.

“The foundation we have built over the past decade remains strong,” Dr. Evans said. “Higher academic standards, targeted support for teachers, and a strong accountability system have improved student achievement in Mississippi over the long term. This year’s results do not change our commitment to these proven strategies.”

School- and district-level accountability results: mdek12.org/publicreporting/accountability

Official accountability results following State Board approval: msrc.mdek12.org

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